Online Entertainment Editor

Author Hilary Mantel is used to being acknowledged, having won two Man Booker prizes, but it took the words "plastic" and "mannequin" for her to make worldwide headlines, and to drive a spike in sales of her book.

The writer claimed the popular Duchess was "entirely defined by what she wore" and her "perfect plastic smile" had led to her being "selected for her role of princess" because she was "irreproachable".

Mantel's words quickly spread and just as quickly came the condemnation from public figureheads.

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Prime Minister David Cameron said Mantel's observations were "completely misguided and completely wrong", while historian Alison Weir said the Duchess deserved people's respect. An opinion shared by the majority, who found the words "unkind".

But that has not stopped people seeking out more of Mantel, with Amazon books (UK) reporting a spike in her novel sales.

The company's historical fiction chart has Mantel's Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies in the top four of best-sellers, including Wolf Hall's e-book version, until yesterday.

"In e-book sales, we noticed around 100 per cent increase in sales of Wolf Hall yesterday (February 19) as compared to the day before," Minna Fry, associate publisher at Fourth Estate, told The Bookseller magazine.

"We're pleased that many people are still keen to see what Hilary has to say and have not been put off by the negative press attention."

The figures may suggest new readers are picking up Mantel's work as a result of the publicity, with others inspired to buy the second part of the historical fiction, according to London newspaper The Telegraph.

However, Mantel's gripping and bloody second instalment of her Tudor trilogy, Bring up the Bodies, only won the Costa prize last month, which could also account for the spike in sales.

Historian Mary Beard told the Telegraph that the author had been unfairly targeted, because the comments, in the fuller context of the lecture, weren't meant as "a venomous attack on the Duchess, but as a bit of coolly dispassionate analysis on the 'female royal body' ".

During her lecture, Mantel also called for the public to "back off and not be brutes" in their speculation over the royals.

17 comments so far

Sadly, once again ignorance gets headlines (and sales).

Commenter

Gery

Location

Date and time

February 22, 2013, 11:39AM

Yiure know, the first thing I thought was, "hmmm, no such thing as bad publicity".

It's not that I'm cynical or anything.....

Commenter

Curious

Location

Date and time

February 22, 2013, 12:50PM

I agree Gery. Anyone who reads Mantel's piece has to wonder what all the fuss is about. It's frightening, really, how issues get blown out of all proportion, with the help of the media.

Commenter

Sharon

Location

Sydney

Date and time

February 22, 2013, 1:36PM

Poor old Hilary, she is as ugly as a hatfull and has to take her frustration out on someone. Very sad

Commenter

johno

Location

Date and time

February 22, 2013, 1:37PM

Because it's all about what a woman looks like, isn't it Johno? Which really reinforces the original point that Mantel was making.

Commenter

Cam

Location

Sydney

Date and time

February 22, 2013, 2:37PM

How come the Age publishes ignorant abuse like johno's comment? These forums are full of spite and ignorance. Make us all use our verified names or refuse to publish infantile abuse.

Commenter

dumb guy

Location

melbourne

Date and time

February 22, 2013, 3:01PM

*Exasperated sigh*

As much as it pains me, I suppose I have to accept that the majority of the public, of which Johno is an excellent example, would much rather gobble up headline grabbing snippets than go to the actual source and form their own opinion. A journalist, however, should do better, but I guess I'm kidding myself - we are living in the age of the tabloid after all.

There have been so many articles on this over the past few days, yet very few have actually discussed Mantel's lecture in its full context. It's much easier, much more sensationalist to pit her as a fat, old, barren witch jealous of thin, young, fertile Kate, than to understand her commentary on the female ideal coveted by the royalty and the media.

Commenter

mickettymousie

Location

Date and time

February 22, 2013, 3:05PM

Poor old Johno, he is as dumb as a box of hammers and to show his ignorance on the comments thread. Very sad.

Anyone who read Mantel's full text could see she was clearly PROTECTING the princess, not attacking her. She didn't say "Kate is too skinny and has no personality" she was saying that Kate HAS to be thin so the tabloids can't run any 'weighty Katie' stories and she is not ALLOWED to have a personality lest she 'cause trouble'.

Personally as a 28 yr old female I can look at a picture of Kate Middleton for about 1.5 seconds before my eyes glaze over. But I routinely stop myself in the middle of Wolf Hall to catch my breath and marvel at the sheer genius that is Hilary Matel. I think she is beautiful.

Commenter

The Rat

Location

Toorak

Date and time

February 22, 2013, 3:26PM

I love your post, The Rat, it made me smile. Especially the part about Mantel being beautiful. It restores my faith in humanity!

Commenter

Cam

Location

Sydney

Date and time

February 22, 2013, 4:17PM

I think the book is doing well because there are many people out there who have been impressed by Mantel's eloquence and powerful use of expression. I think when it comes to it, most people seek to learn and appreciate intellect over the sensationalism of tabloid journalism and see past the low brow dislike of this author based on the fact that her looks do not conform to the beauty myth. I hope duchess Kate reads one of her books.